Fingering indicator for keyboard musical instruments



Jan. 21, 1958 w. E. JANSSEN ET'AL.

FINGERING INDICATOR FOR KEYBOARD MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS 9 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed July 11, 1955 INVENTORS WEBSTER E. JhNssEN PAUL F. MURDOCK yfiqATTORNEYS.

Jan. 21, 1958 w. E. JANSSEN ETAL FINGERING INDICATOR FOR KEYBOARDMUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed July 11, l955 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS UWEBSTER E. JANSSEN Q y PAUL ff MURDOCK x4 TTOFPNE Y6.

W. E. JANSSEN ETAL Jan. 21, 1958 2,820,391

FINGERING INDICATOR FOR KEYBOARD MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed July 11, 19559 Sheets-Sheet 3 WEBSTER BY .414 F? m wumwf 5 TN WM w w u T IEM N 9Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS W. E. JANSSEN ET AL.

. a N WWW 5 o N N w R a m m mF L mu FINGERING INDICATOR FOR KEYBOARDMUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed July 11, 1955 Jan. 21, 1958 N N m w m Jan. 21,1958 Filed July 11, 1955 w. E. JANSSEN ErAL' FINGERING INDICATOR FORKEYBOARD MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS Wzasrzk E. dwsse/v PAUL E MURDOCK Q WI ATTORNEYS.

Jan. 21, 1958 ,w. E. JANSSEN ET'AL FINGERING INDICATOR FOR KEYBOARDMUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed July 11, 1955 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTORSWEBSTER E. JAMssE/v PA UL E MURDOCK Jam 21 1958* w. E. JANSSEN ETAL2,820,391

FINGERING INDICATOR FOR KEYBOARD MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed July 11, 19559 Shegts-Sheet '7 INVENTORS WB$TR E, di lvssz/v BY PAUL E MURDOCK ATTOEWEK? Jan. 21, 1958 w. E. JANSSEN ETAL 2,320,391

FINGERING INDICATOR FOR KEYBOARD MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed July 11, 1955'9 Sheets-Sheet 8 m 7 Z 1 Z 19 O W \i fir 0 I I mum %Il 7e '75 75 75 76W A WEBSTER t 'f g x lv Z2 5) PAUL I. MURDOCK 1% 75 yyw LAJQLI L.- asATTORNEYS- Jan. 21, 1958 w. E. JANSSEN ETAL 9 Sheets-sheaf, 9

Filed July 11, 1955 INVENTORS WEBSTER E \IJNSSEN PAUL F. MuRoocKATTORNEKS.

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United States Patent" FINGERING INDICATOR FOR KEYBOARD MUSICALINSTRUMENTS Webster E. Janssen, Bronxville, N. Y., and Paul F. Murdock,Clinton, Conn., assignors to Janssen Piano (10., Inc., New York, N. Y.,a corporation of New York Application July 11, 1955, Serial No. 521,276

19 Claims. (Cl. 84-485) The present invention provides an improved pianowhereon piano playing is made easier to learn for the novice or student,and anyone is enabled to gain immediate enjoyment at the piano. Theinvention specifically provides a piano wherein visual indicating meansshow the keys and combinations of keys in a bass octave which are to bestruck by the player to obtain a chord to be played with a melody keystruck simultaneously therewith in a treble octave. While the inventionis herein shown and described embodied as a piano, it will be apparentthat it will as readily provide other improved keyboard instruments byapplying the principles and constructions thereto which are herein shownand described.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in parthereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned bypractice with the invention, the same being realized and attained bymeans of the combinations and improvements pointed out in the appendedclaims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements,combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a parthereof, illustrate different embodi: ments of the invention, and,together with the description, serve to explain the principles of theinvention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary vertical section through central portion of oneembodiment of my piano, with certain parts broken away.

Fig. 2 is a plan view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1, also with partsbroken away.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section along the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the bus bar assembly asviewed from the bottom.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along line 66 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the various bus bars shown schematicallyin their relationship to each other.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along the line 88 of Fig.6.

Fig. 9 is a circuit diagram of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1-8.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the light indicatormechanisms in another position.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary section along the line 11-11 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is similar to Fig. 1, but wherein the light means is housed in aremovable and portable housing.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the housing shown in Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of a modified embodiment of thepiano of the invention wherein diiferent switch mechanisms are utilized.

ice

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line 1515 ofFig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale ofone of the switch elements as shown in Fig. 15, the element being shownin circuit making position.

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional View taken along line 1717 ofFig. 14.

Fig. 18 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 1818 of Fig. 17wherein the contacts for the indicator lights are shown in elevation.

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line 19-19 ofFig. 18.

Fig. 20 is a diagrammatic illustration of the circuit interconnectingthe treble keys, switch members, and lights associated with certain basskeys, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 14 to 19of the drawings.

The object of the present invention is to provide a piano wherein anovice or beginner may learn to play the piano after a very short periodof time so as to gain almost immediate enjoyment from the playingthereof. More particularly, the object of my invention is to provide apiano having visual indicating means showing the keys and combination ofkeys in a bass octave which are to be struck by the player to obtain achord to be played with a melody key struck simultaneously therewith ina treble octave. By providing such an arrangement, the novice is enabledto play simple tunes almost immediately and can rapidly progress.

As is well known to those skilled in the art, a chord is produced bysimultaneously striking a combination of a plurality of keys to providea melodious sound. Bass chords are associated with treble melody keys inthe playing of music, and a novice often has difiiculty correlating hisstriking of the keys in a bass octave when he strikes a key in a trebleoctave. By practicing on the piano of the present invention, a studentacquires the proper feel with respect to the bass octaves, and is ableto correlate the keys in the bass and treble octaves in producing properharmonic sounds quicker than if he had used a conventional piano with novisual indicating means.

Broadly, my invention relates to a piano having visual indicating meansin association with the keys of a bass octave for indicating thecombination of keys of a bass octave to be struck when a melody key in atreble octave is struck. More particularly, the visual indicating meanscomprises a plurality of sets of lights of different color, with eachset being of the same color, in association and in indicatingrelationship with at least one bass octave of a piano keyboard. Thesesets of lights are arranged in a predetermined manner so that the lightsof at least one set are lit simultaneously to indicate the propercombination keys in a bass octave to be struck when a melody key in atreble octave is struck in order to attain the desired harmonic sound bythe production of a completed bass chord in harmonic relation to themelody key.

In accordance with one modification of my invention, the plurality ofsets of lights are in electrical connection with a switch mechanism inassociation with at least one treble octave, the electrical circuitarrangement being such that as a treble melody key is depressed, a setor sets of lights in the visual indicating means are lit to indicate theproper combination of keys to be struck in the bass octave for producinga harmonically-related completed chord.

In another modification, a circuit arrangement is provided whereby thelights in all of the sets are lit so that such a visual indicating meansis provided which may be used in connection with an instructive musicsheet having correlated color indices. the lights are not in electricalconnection with a switch mechanism in association with a treble octaveso as to be selectively lit as in the first embodi1nent,but aresimultaneously turned on or off by passing current or stopping the flowof currenttherethrough. Thus, in. this second embodiment, it isprincipally useful when used in con.- junction with an instructive sheethaving proper color indices. Thus, for example, if the keys in the bassoctave in association with a set of lights, say green lights, of myvisual indicating means, produce, a completed bass chord when struck atthe same time as a particular melody key in the treble octave, the noteon the music sheet designating this treble key will have a.corresponding green color associated therewith to indicate that whenthis treble key is struck, the combination of keys in asso ciation withthe green lights should be simultaneously struck.

in a still further modification, the features of the first twoembodiments may be incorporated. in this construction, a switchingmechanism of the same construction of the first embodiment is providedin electrical connection with the lights of the visual indicating meansso that the lights may be selectively lit by the depression of a treblekey. There is further provided, however, a shunt switch whereby thecircuit of the switching mechanism may be by-passed so that all of thelights in the visual indicating means may be simultaneously turned on bythe actuation of the shunt switch so that said visual indicating meansmay be used in conjunction with an instructive music sheet if sodesired. Also, the provision of the shunt switch provides means fortesting the lights to determine if any replacement is necessary.

in order to describe my invention more specifically, reference is madeto Figs. 1-9 of the drawings. purpose of illustration, the visualindicating means shown therein is in association with the keys of thefirst bass octave below middle C, while the switching mechanism forselectively controlling the lights to be lit in the visual indicatingmeans is in association with the first two treble octaves above middleC. This particular arrangement, to be used in conjunction with musicwritten in the key of C, is for the purpose of illustration only, and itshould be understood that my invention is in no way limited to theparticular arrangement shown. Thus, modifications of the embodimentshown, so as to be useful in playing music written in keys other than C,are well within the scope of the present invention, as will be apparentto those skilled in the field.

As shown in Fig. 2, the white keys 2 have designated thereon theappropriate key designation in order to more clearly iliustrate thepresent invention. It is not necessary that the keys be so marked in thepiano of the invention, as the player has already or may easily learnthe sequence of keys. in the use of the present invention, it may befound desirable to actually mark some or all of the keys, particularlyin the treble octaves, or alternatively a removable,longitudinallyextending chart showing the key designations may beprovided to stand on or near the keys when the piano is in use, as anaid to the player. The white keys 2 and black keys 2 are pivoted in theconventional manner by means of balance pins 31 and balance punchings don balance rails Also, the piano action 6 and fallboard 7 areconventional, as is the nameboard or keylock 24.

For the purpose of providing visual indicating means to indicate theproper combination of keys in the bass to be struck when a melody key ina treble octave is suck, there is provided a light assembly comprising aplurality of sets of lights 9-17, supported by light support 18 andpositioned rearwardly of corresponding transparent plugs 9-17, such asLucite, for instance, supported in the nameboard it. As is best shown inFig. 3, the plugs 9-17 and corresponding lights 9ll7 are asso- In such aconstruction,

For the However, for additional facility All) 4 ciated in indicatingrelationship with the first oc tgve below middle C of the keyboard.

The transparent plugs 9-17 are of a predetermined color in order toprovide a plurality of sets of lights of difierent color. Of course,instead of using conventional white lights in conjunction with thecolored transparent plugs, the light bulbs themselves may be colored ifso desired. In the embodimentshown, Plugs; 9, 1-5 and 17 are of onecolor, such as blue, to provide one set of lights of the same color;plugs 13, 1 4. and 1 6 are red, and id, ill and 12. are green. These;lights: ammonnected in a circuit arrangement so that all of the lightsin the same set are lit simultaneously,

In order to provide means for selectively lighting a set or sets oflights in the visual indicating means in association with the keys ofthe first bass octave below middle C when a key in the first two trebleoctaves above middle C is struck, there is provided a, switch mechanism,in association with the keys, of said tre le. octaves.

In the switching mechanism shown, there isprovided a plurality ofindividual switch members, eagh oi switch members being associated witha key of the first, two treble octaves above middle C, each of; saidswitch, members being of such construction that it is aptuated, on thedepression of its corresponding key in the treble octaves so as to closea circuit whereby a set or sets Qfi lights is lit in the bass octave toeffectuate the dos correlation. Thus, there is provided means whereby helights in the visual indicating means are lit depending upon whichparticular melody key in the treble octave is struck so as to indicatethe combination of keys in bass octave to be struck in order to producethe proper harmonic sound.

The above-referred-to switching mechanism, in asso, ciation with thetreble keys and adapted to be actuated thereby, comprises a bus barswitch assembly comprising, a bus bar support 19, bus bars 22, 23, 24and 2 5 and in, dividual switch members in the form of fingpr contacts26-40. Bus bar support 19 is supported on the keybed by means ofvertical blocks 20 and 2 1, the conventional spacing of the arrangementof the keyboard providing adequate space for the reception of saidblocks, 29 21. Mounted in spaced longitudinal grooves. in said. port 19are the bus bars 22-25, As is best shown, in Figs. 6-9, the bus bars areconnected in the electrical. circuit, as will be explained hereinbelowin detail, power line bus bar 22 being solid while bus bars 231-25provided with recesses.

The finger contacts 26740, in association with the keys of the first twooctaves above middle C, are at the base of bus bar support 19. Each ofsaid finger contacts is provided with a sponge member 26, adapted to bemoved upwardly on contact therewith of a top, surface of its associatedtreble key on the striking oi said key. The actuation of the spongemember causes its gttached finger contact to move upwardly so as tocontact the power bus bar 22 and at least one of the otheg-bus bars23-25, depending upon the particular treble key. that,

is depressed. The circuit arrangement is such that when a finger contactis actuated by a treble key, a closed cip. cuit is formed wherein a setor sets of lights in the visual indicating means are lit so as toindicate the proper some bination of keys to be, struck in the bassoctave for producing a bass chord harmonically related to, the smack;key in the treble octave.

As mentioned hereinabove, the bus bar 22 is solid, with, no recessesbeing provided, so that on the actuation of a finger contact this powerline bus bar is contacted. so. that.

current passes from said bus bar to said finger contact and thencethrough at least one of the other bus bars 23725: in order to completethe circuit. Recesses are provided in the bus bars 23-25 in apredetermined manner so as to control the current passing theret-hroughfrom a linger contact so as to either complete or fail to. complete nhoic1rcuit, depending upon the particular finger contaccthat is actuated bya treble key. Thus, by providing recesses, in certain instances, aparticular finger contact will not contact a particular bus bar 22-25because of the recesses. In every instance, however, in addition tocontacting power bus bar 22, at least one of the bus bars 23-25 iscontacted so as to complete a circuit causing at least one set of lightsin the visual indicating means to be lit. Fig. 9 illustratesdiagrammatically the particular bus bars that are contacted by eachfinger contact when its corresponding white key in the treble octave isdepressed.

In order to describe more fully the circuit arrangement between thevisual indicating means in association with the key of the bass octaveand the switching mechanism in association with the keys of the trebleoctave, reference is now made to the circuit diagram shown in Fig. 9.

Power is supplied to the sides 41, 42 of a line by means of transformer43 connected toa source of power. Each of the bulbs or lights 9'-17 isconnected by conventional lead lines from a corresponding terminal toone side 41 of the line. The other terminal of each light is connectedto one or another bus bars 23-25, which are in turn adapted to beconnected selectively by contact fingers 26-40 to bus bar 22 connectedto the other side 42 of the line. Thus, for example, when the white keyC in association with contact finger 26 is depressed, the fingercontacts bus bar 22 and bus bar 24, causing current to flow through side42, through bus bar 22 and contact finger 26, into bus bar 24, whence itpasses to a terminal of lights 13, 14 and 16', which illuminate redplugs 13, 14 and 16.

It is seen, therefore, that when key C in the treble octave is struck,C, F and A in the bass should be simultaneously struck in order toproduce the proper bass chord. From the foregoing and following thecircuit diagram shown in Fig. 9, it is seen that on the striking of eachof the treble keys C, D, E, A and B, one set of lights in associationwith the keys of the bass octave are lit, while on the striking of keysF or G, two sets of lights are lit.

- Still referring to Fig. 9 of the drawings, the operation of the pianofor the benefit of the student or novice will be clearly apparent. Wheneither key C or key E in either of the first two treble octaves isstruck, the red set of lights comprising 13, 14' and 16 are lit,indicating that a chord of keys C, F and A should be played with theleft hand in the bass octave. Similarly, when either key D or key B isstruck in the treble octaves, the green set of lights comprising 11 and12' is lit, indicating the keys F, G and B in the bass octave should beplayed as a chord. When key A is depressed in a treble octave, the blueset of lights comprising 9', 17' and is lit, indicating keys C, E and Gin the first bass octave as a chord. And finally, when F is struck inthe treble octave, both the green and blue sets of lights are lit,indicating a choice of chords for the left hand of the student, eitherF, G and B, or C, E and G; and when G is struck with the right hand,both the red and green sets of lights are lit, indicating the option ofC, F and A, or F, G and B in the bass octave as optional chords for theleft hand.

If desired, the treble key actuated switch mechanism may be by-passed byproviding a shunt switch 44 which, when closed, serves to light all ofthe lights 9'17, as well be apparent to those skilled in the art. Asmentioned hereinbefore, the shunt switch provides a testing mechanism tosee if all of the lights are operating properly and at the same timepermits the visual indicating means to be used in conjunction with amusic sheet having appropriate color indicia. It will also be clear thatthe piano could be made only with the indicating lights and without theswitch mechanism for keys in a treble octave, if the advantagesconnected therewith are not desired.

Reference is now made to Figs. 10 and 11, illustrating an embodimentidentical to that of Figs. 1-9, with the exception that the visualindicating assembly is supported below the keys on the keyboard supportinstead of on the nameboard. In this modification, the lights 51 aremounted in light support 52, which in turn is mounted in a suitablerecess 53 in keyboard support 54. Above the lights 51 are transparentplugs 55, having their lower ends supported in appropriate slots insupport 52 with their upper ends extending into corresponding slots 56in the white keys of the bass octave. The top 57 of the white keys issutliciently transparent that the light passing through the plugs 55 canbe seen on the top surface of the keys indicating the bass keys to bestruck.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 12 and 13, a removable and portablelight housing assembly is employed in place of the stationaryarrangement shown in the embodiment of Figs. 1-9. This assemblycomprises a casing 60, a support 61 for the lights 62 and plugs 63enclosed in said casing, said support having slots inclined at an anglefor the reception of said bulbs and plugs. The housing is supported onthe rear of the keys. The casing 60 has mounted on each side thereof afinger 64 adapted to fit outside of a pair of spaced keys so as toposition the casing on the keys at the backs thereof, and the lightswill be arranged in indicating relationship with the keys in the bassoctave as shown in Fig. 13.

Turning now to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 14 to 20inclusive, the association of light indicating means for keys in a bassoctave of the piano with switch members for each key in the two trebleoctaves above middle C is the same as that already described for otherembodiments of the invention. In this embodiment, the same three sets oflights, of the same colors, are associated with the same bass keys, andare actuated by the same treble keys, as in the embodiments alreadydescribed, but alternative and preferred switch and circuit means areemployed.

As shown in Fig. 17, the lights 7% are fitted into suitable apertures 71in the nameboard 72 of the piano, and colored plugs '73, preferably ofLucite, are arranged in the apertures in front of the predetermined keysin the first base octave below middle C, as schematically shown in Fig.20. The lights 70 are seated for contact at their bases in aperturesthrough a conductive plate 74, which extends along the back of nameboard72. The central base contact of each light 70 is adapted to be engagedby an individual spring finger contact 75 (Fig. 18), which said contacts75 are properly positioned on a carrier member 76 and suitably aifixedthereto as illustrated in Fig. 19. The contact carrier 76 is positionedat the back of nameboard 72 and removably afiixed thereto as by screws,and the carrier also has afiixed thereto a common contact 78, solabelled in Fig. 20, for circuit completing contact with the conductiveplate 74 whereby, as will be readily appreciated, the lights 70 are allin electrical contact with plate 74 and contact 78, and each is inindividual contact with its respective contact 75 by its base centerpole.

The switch means for association with the keys in the two treble octavesabove middle C for lighting the lights 70 associated with the keys ofthe first base octave comprise upper and lower elongated carriers 80 and81 (Fig. 15) removably secured together as by screws 82 (Fig. 14).Relieved places 83 (Fig. 16) in carrier 80 are correspondinglypositioned with respect to relieved places 84 in carrier 81, to receivecylindrically-formed contacts 85, and carrier 81 is apertured throughits lower surface to each relieved place 34 to receive the protrudingend of a contact 85. A coiled spring 85' in each relieved place 83engages and enters the flared or frusto-conical upper end 86 of eachcontact 35, whereby the contacts are springpressed downwardly forcontact of the flared end with a pair of bus bars, one at either side ofrelieved places 84.

As best shown in Fig. 20, the said bus bars extend longitudinally alongthe lower carrier element 81, are

7 spacedfrom each other, and are six in numb'enbeing designated 87, lid,89, iii, 9d and 92 in the drawings. One bus barb? is connected to oneline% of the electrical power source, and serves merely to interconnectsaid line95 and the common contact 78011 carrier 7 6 which is in contactwith conductor 74 and hence with all of the li hts.

The other side 96 of electrical power connects to bus bars 89and' 9ftwhich are adapted, one or the other of them, to be engageable with everyspring-pressed cylindrical contact 85; Electrical connection may thus bemade between either bus bar 89 and 91, through each contact 35, with oneof the bus bars 88, 96 or 92, which said bars are selectively connectedto the individual finger contacts 75 for each light ill.

Theswitch assembly comprising the carriers and 81 is arranged behindnameboard 72 and extends alongthe firsttwo treble octaves (Fig. 14), sothat each springpressed-contact 85 is engageable by a predetermined key.As shown in. Fig. 15, the contacts are thus positioned between thebalance pins 93 where the keys are pivoted and the forward part of thekey where it is struck by the player, so that normally the contacts 85,engaging the upper surface of a key, are held out of engagement with theadjacent bus bars, but depression of the key allows the relatively weakcoiled spring 85 to positively move the contact downwardly and intocontact with the bus bars.

Reference to Fig. will show that the embodiment just described comprisesthe same three sets of lights arranged in indicating relationship forthe same chords in the bass octave as was described for the embodimentsearlier discussed herein, and said sets of lights are ac" tuatedby thesame treble keys. As shown, the treble keys of C, D, E, A and B are eachaligned with a springpressed contact 85 which is adapted to establishcontact with one of the bus bars 88, 9@ or 92,.to light the green, red,or blue set of lights respectively, and thus indicate a chord to beplayed with the left hand. The keys F and G in each of the two trebleoctaves are each engageable with two contacts 85, whereby two sets ofthe lights are simultaneously energized, giving the student an option oftwo chords to be played. as has been hereinbefore described.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specificcombinations and improvements described, but departures may bemadetherefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departingfrom the principles of the invention and withoutsacrificing its chiefadvantages.

What is claimed is:

1. An instructive piano comprising a piano having a.

bass chord when a melody key in the treble octave is struck.

2. An instructive, piano comprising a piano having a keyboard, visualindicating means comprising a plurality of sets of lights of differentcolor, each set being of. the same color, in association and indicatingrelationship with the keys of at least one bass octave of said keyboardand a switching mechanism, in electrical connection with said sets oflights, in association with the keys of at least one treble octave ofsaid keyboarc, said switching mechanism providing means for selectivelylighting at least one set of lights of said visual indicating means forindicating the proper combination of keys in a bass octave to be struckfor the production of a completed bass chord on the striking of a melodykey in a treble octave.

3. An instructive piano comprising, in combination, a

keyboard, a plurality of sets of lights each set comprising a pluralityof; lights, each light being associated in key' indicating relationshipwith a key of the keyboard, switch means associated with a plurality ofother keys of the keyboard than said keys with which said lights areassociated in key indicating relationship, circuitmeans interconnectingsaid switch means and said lights with an electric power source whereinat least one set of saidlights-is connectedthrough said switch means tothe electric power source upon the depression of any one ofsaid otherkeys, and other switch and circuit means for connectingsaid lights withan electric power source independently of said first switch means.

4. An instructive piano comprising, in combination, a keyboard, aplurality of sets of lights each set comprising a; plurality of lights,each light being associated in key indicating relationship with a key ofthe keyboard,

switch means associated with a plurality of other keys of the keyboardthan said keys with which said lights are associated in key indicatingrelationship, and circuit means interconnectingsaid switch means andsaid lights with an electric power source wherein at least one set ofsaid lights is connected through said switch means to the electric powersource upon the depression of any one of said other keys.

5. An instructive piano comprising, in combination, a keyboard, apluralityof sets of lights each set comprising a'plurality'of lights ofthe same color, each set of lights'being of a different color from anyother set, each light being associated in key indicating relationshipwith a key in a bass octave of the keyboard, switch means associatedwith each of the keys in a treble octave of the keyboard, and circuitmeans interconnecting an electric power source, said switch means andsaid lights, wherein at least one. set of said lights is connectedthrough a. switch to the electric power source upon thedepression ofeach said key in a treble octave.

6. An instructive piano as set forth in claim 4 wherein said switch andcircuit means comprise a bus bar assembly including a power line. busbar and at least one other bus. bar, and'a plurality of switch elementseach adapted to contact the power line bus bar and at least one otherbus. bar on the depression of a respective one of said other keys.

7. An instructive pianoas set forth in claim 4 wherein said switch andcircuit means comprise a bus bar assembly including apower line bus barand at least one other bus bar, and a plurality of switch fingercontacts each adapted to contact theipower line bus bar and at least oneother bus bar on the depression of a respective. one

of saidother. keys.

8. An instructive piano as set forth in claim 4 wherein said switch andcircuit means comprise a bus bar assembly including a power'line bus barand at least one other bus bar, and a plurality of spring-pressed switchcontacts each adapted to contact by its spring pressure the power linebus bar and at least one other bus bar on the depression. of arespective one of said other keys. E

9. An instructive piano as set forth in claim 4 wherein said switch andcircuit means comprise a bus bar assembly including a power line bus barand a plurality of other bus bars, said other bars being selectivelyrelieved at places along their lengths, and a plurality of switchelements each adapted to contact the power line bus bar and at least oneother bus bar at an unrelieved place along the length thereof on thedepression of a respective one of said other keys. 4

10. An instructive piano as set forth in claim 4 wherein said switch andcircuit means comprise a bus bar assembly including a plurality of powerline bus bars and a plurality of other bus bars, and a plurality ofspring pressed switch contacts each adapted to contact by its springpressure a power line bus bar and at least one ther bus bar on thedepression of a respective one of said other keys.

11. An instructive piano as set forth in claim 4 wherein said switch andcircuit means are such that depression of at least one of said otherkeys will light at least two sets of said lights.

12. An instructive piano as set forth in claim 4 wherein said lights arepositioned in the casing of the piano associated with their respectivekeys at the ends of the keys.

13. An instructive piano as set forth in claim 4 wherein said lights arepositioned to indicate their respective keys by the passage of lightthrough a part of the key.

14. An instructive piano as set forth in claim 4 wherein said lights arepositioned in a casing separable from the piano and adapted to rest onthe piano keys.

15. An instructive piano as set forth in claim 4 wherein the keys of thepiano keyboard are pivotally mounted and said switch means comprisesswitch contacts positioned beyond the pivot from the place where the keyis struck by the player, each contact adapted to be closed by upwardmovement of a respective key.

16. An instructive piano as set forth in claim 4 where in the keys ofthe piano keyboard are pivotally mounted and said switch means comprisesswitch contacts positioned on the side of the pivot at which the key isstruck, each contact adapted to be closed by downward move ment of therespective key.

17. A musical instrument comprising means including a plurality of keysfor producing a plurality of musical tones forming octaves of a musicalscale, visual indicating means associated with at least certain octavesof said tone producing means and means operable by the actuation of keysassociated with at least one other octave for operating said visualindicating means to indicate at least certain keys of said certainoctaves that will produce a harmonic chord.

18. A musical instrument according to claim 17 wherein said visualindicating means comprises a plurality of sets of lights of differentcolor, the lights of each set being of the same color and indicating thetones to be sounded simultaneously for the production of a harmonicchord.

19. The combination with a piano of means for facilitating the playingthereof comprising visual indicating means associated with and inindicating relationship to the keys of at least one bass octave of thepiano keyboard and means responsive to the actuation of a melody key inanother octave to operate said visual indicating means to indicate tonesto be sounded when striking said melody key.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,607,226 Wood NOV. 16, I926 1,733,477 Votey Oct. 29, 1929 2,223,009Rupp et al Nov. 26, 1940 2,727,424 Isaacson Dec. 20, 1955 FOREIGNPATENTS 800,520 Germany Nov. 13, 1950

